Groups Rally In Support Of Dam Removal And Restoration Project

Groups from Southern Oregon and Northern California rallied outside Senator Ron Wyden’s office in Portland Thursday. They came to show support for a restoration project along the Klamath River.

Demonstrators show support of Senator Wyden's push for a hearing by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Sergio Cisneros / OPB

It would take millions to restore fish habitat and remove four dams.

Toni Peters is a member of a native tribe being affected.

“We’re here protesting the dams and the water rights and the fish. Keep our rivers clean for our kids, younger generations, the elders. Keep the river alive. Keep people healthy and safe,” Peters says.

Community members and Pacific Power have reached an agreement to remove the dams, but can’t begin restoration until Congress approves and provides funding. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, which Senator Wyden chairs, will hold a hearing on June 20.

Thursday in a story about a rally in support of a proposed Klamath River restoration project, OPB misstated the status of legislation on this project. There is no Klamath basin restoration agreement bill in Congress at this time. There was a bill introduced in the previous session. So the rally participants were asking Congress to take up the matter again. OPB regrets the error.